This might be the next step water warriors have to consider.

The Mother City remains in the grip of tight water restrictions while being at the mercy of the heavens above. Recent rainfall has helped propel the city’s dams back up to something resembling respectable levels.

These were the exact words uttered by Jayant Bhagwan, an executive manager for the WRC. He and his researchers estimate that 40% of all freshwater is used to flush away human waste.

Bhagwan is suggesting that the future of defecation must become water-conscious. But how exactly do we, erm… “drop the kids off at the pool” if there’s no pool involved? We’re having a look at the “dry-toilet” alternatives.

How do you use a toilet without a flush?

Freezing toilets

(Wikimedia Commons)

What could be more appealing than a poo-cicle? Swedish boffins have come up with the concept of a “freezing toilet” that operates without the influence of fresh water.

The toilet runs on electricity and will need to remain plugged in. But it will almost instantaneously receive the waste, freeze it and then eliminate the odours as well as harmful bacteria.

Incinerating toilets

(Wikimedia Commons)

Don’t worry, you won’t be in danger of burning your bum, here. Solid waste combustion technology can convert fecal matter into burnable pieces and then uses a thermoelectric device to turn the heat energy into reusable electrical energy.

Composting toilets

(Wikimedia Commons)

This is the very definition of sustainability: This type of loo will see your human waste become part of the composting process. With an intricate system of aerobic technology, your poo could eventually become fit for plant growth.

The addition of sawdust and peat moss will limit the odour, whereas harmful pathogens will die off through isolation (if your composting toilet is installed correctly).

Arumloo

(Water Research Commission)

Okay, this technically isn’t a dry toilet but it is right up there in terms of efficiency. The Arumloo prides itself on using between one-to-two litres per flush, as opposed to the nine litres Bhagwan estimates each pull of the chain uses.

Using a dual mechanism, flushing is achieved using an innovative pan design that creates a vortex to remove stools more efficiently and a gush of water that flows through the P-shaped structure.